Friday, September 20, 2013

From
around America they came, from Massachusetts (Lateef), northern California
(Mitchell), southern California (Rudolph), from Minnesota (Ewart), they
gathered in Minneapolis to play together for the first time, in this concert.
Are you surprised to discover ex-Detroiter Lateef improvising along with three
leading ex-Chicago free spirits? ''He has such a wide musical spectrum and a
musical vision,'' says Ewart. ''His vision is inclusive, not exclusive - he
welcomes younger musicians and other visions,'' and Rudolph emphasizes Lateef's
''deep feeling and spiritual awareness.'' Of course, these Chicagoans are
musical globetrotters themselves. Like Lateef, all three have worked with
African musicians, plus Jamaica-born Ewart has also studied flutes in Japan and
Australia and Adam Rudolph has lived in West Africa and studied North Indian
percussion. All four have so much to share, to inspire each other - there are
no barriers. ~ amazon.com

ROBERTO SANTAMARIA & HIS LATIN JAZZ STARS - FIESTA AL JAZZ

Elegance,
virtuosity, and Caribbean feeling: the triad of virtues that characterizes
their concerts. ""The people ... enjoy the unusual, upbeat
combination of Cuban cha-cha-chá with elements of funk, soul and, of course,
jazz. And they are fascinated by their explosive yet intricate playing style
..."" wrote Lorenz Erl in the Donaukurier about the band's concert in
the Audi-Forum in Ingolstadt in April 2012. It was the band's first public
appearance. A gig in the BIX jazz club in Stuttgart followed in November, a
live recording of which is included as a promo CD. The seven musicians really
get off on their groove, sending out sparks that immediately ignite the
audience--which is why they decided to record a studio CD in 2013 and are
planning many more concerts. ""Latin is out,"" claims the
market. But this band proves that the condemned always live longer than
expected. Every one of the band's concerts resuscitates this brand of jazz,
which filled stadiums and conquered hit parades in the 60s and 70s.
""Beauty never dies"" says its leader, Roberto Santamaría,
with conviction. The Cuban, a nephew of ""Conga King""
Mongo Santamaría, has lived in Germany since 2011. There he has assembled a
seven-member international ensemble that thrills both jazz lovers and Latin
fans. ~ amazon.com

THE SWINGLE SINGERS - WEATHER TO FLY

Weather
To Fly is the Swingle Singers' first full-length album since 2009 and the first
of two discs to be released in the group's fiftieth anniversary year. A punchy,
electrifying set that holds all the excitement of a live show, Weather To Fly
celebrates the best of the group's current a cappella repertoire. All-vocal
arrangements of songs from Turkey, Spain, Italy and Argentina sit alongside
re-imagined British pop from Elbow, Florence and the Machine and The Beatles.
''This is, quite simply, the album our audiences have asked for after every
performance,'' says bass singer Edward Randell. For half a century, The Swingle
Singers have pushed the boundaries of what the human voice can achieve. Their
vocal agility and blend, combined with captivating showmanship, have thrilled
audiences across the globe. Celebrating their 50th anniversary in the 2013-14
season, today's young and gifted Swingle Singers represent the group's
evolution from baroque jazz pioneers to contemporary a cappella phenomenon. ~ amazon.com